Copenhagen police acknowledged the incident on Twitter, stating: “The Little Mermaid was targeted by vandalism. We are on the case,” as translated by the Local.

Denmark has long been pressured by animal activists to put an end to a practice known as Grindadráp, or Grind, in the Faroe Islands. Pilot whales are led into a bay or fjord where they are then killed by hand. The meat and blubber are then distributed to residents.

Earlier this month, Sea Shepherd Netherlands submitted a request to the European Commission to launch “infringement proceedings” against Denmark. It alleged that Danish police, naval, and customs officials have been “facilitating and even actively participating in the Grind,” which violates the EU's Habitats Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora.

It added that “the government of Denmark has shown it’s willing to do whatever it can to ensure that the slaughter continues.”

While Denmark is subject to EU laws which prohibit the killing of whales and dolphins, the Faroe Islands – an autonomous territory in the North Atlantic which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark – is not part of the EU and thus is not subject to such legislation.

Sea Shepherd has denied any role in Tuesday’s vandalism, with the president of the organization's Scandinavian branch, Lukas Erichsen, telling Politiken newspaper that the group was not connected to the crime.

“We understand if people think we are behind this. But we do not support sabotage,” Erichsen said, while reiterating his calls for the EU to launch an investigation into Denmark’s role in the Faroe Islands whaling.